With his new monologue, "Quentin T Do Amateur Night at de Apollo," Martin plunges into a particularly dangerous minefield: the racial politics of Hollywood entertainment.

In an outrageous move, he dresses himself in "glossy Superfly drag" and red dreadlocks to parody Quentin Tarantino. The notorious director speaks in overblown jive to an imaginary all-black audience, trying to persuade them that he alone in Hollywood understands black culture.

"Me 'n' Ricki Lake are still de white celebrities most popular in hoods across de U.S.A, ain' we?" he asks early in the show. "I know we is."

"The monologue grew out of really really hating `Pulp Fiction,' " Martin explains. "That film is a knowing exploitation of (Tarentino's) target audience's most racist and sexist assumptions. And when critics call him on it, he's allowed to excuse himself by saying, `I'm just joking.' "

Despite Martin's outlandish caricature, he's not joking at all. His critique of racism in popular entertainment is devastating.

"The device of doing a grotesque impersonation allows me to say some pretty harsh things that audiences might not otherwise sit still for."

Martin drew primarily upon scholarly criticism to assemble the show. "Most of the ideas have been written on the pages of books and magazines," he says.

"But it's something else when a white guy dressed as a stereotypical black pimp is saying them 5 feet away from you."

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"Quentin T" is playing in an open run at Sweet Corn Playhouse, 5153 N. Clark St. Admission is $10. Reservations are required. 312-409-2876.